​About WTJR Television in Quincy Illinois

Information

WTJR is a Christian television station located at 222 North Sixth street in Quincy, Illinois. WTJR broadcasts DTV on channels 16.1 - 16.4 . The station offers a variety of Christian programming including local shows that are recorded in the WTJR production studio. The station is owned by Christian Television Network, which acquired WTJR from another religious broadcaster, Believers Broadcasting Corporation, in June 2006.

ministry statement

Like Paul the apostle proclaims , we are pressing ” toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14). As we press forward, we at WTJR are focusing our attention on the core mission and that is to broadcast the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word broadcast did not come into being with the invention of radio and television; it is an old word that can be found in Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary. It is actually two words put together, broad and cast. The definition is “Among farmers, a casting or throwing seed from the hand for dispersion in sowing. By scattering or throwing at large from the hand; as, to sow broad-cast. Cast or dispersed upon the ground with the hand, as seed in sowing; opposed to planting in hills or rows.” In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said that The Seed is The Word of God (Luke 8:11).

Christian Broadcasting is scattering The Word of God wherever that signal reaches. Secular broadcasting scatters the seed of this world, Christian Broadcasting promotes Christ. In light of this, the value of Christian Broadcasting is great and cannot be measured. The message that we scatter over this area is: 1. “In Him was Life,” (John 1:4) True Life; God’s Life can only be found in Jesus Christ. 2. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Christ’s mission is that we would have or possess this life. 3. “It is finished:” (John 19:30) Christ accomplished what He set out to do, and that was to give us Eternal Life. This is what we broadcast, and your prayers and financial support make it possible.Please continue to help us in the effort to broadcast this Good News.​

The Vision that started the station WTJR

Carl Geisendorfer President
BBC
Quincy IL -2006

In their early twenties, Carl and Patricia Geisendorfer were asked to help with another couple’s marriage. Not being churchgoers, they thought if they started going they could invite the couple and God would somehow help them. Through hearing the Word of God, they soon realized they needed the Lord as much as anyone. After yielding their lives to the Lord Jesus, and receiving the great experience of being born again, Carl and Patricia began ministering in song and preaching the Word in many churches. After pastoring a short while, they were led to Canada for a mission journey, where the Lord blessed with souls, and Patricia’s parents came back to the Lord and the ministry. In 1978, after moving back to Missouri, they purchased the business (locker plant) where Carl worked while raising their four children. Three years later, their business and home were paid off, and they (had just) sold another business they had acquired the second year, and promised the Lord the profits of that sale. No more repairing broken compressors after butchering all day.They could finally slow down and take life easy, but deep down, Carl and Patricia knew God had prospered them for another purpose. There was a struggle within Carl’s heart to understand just how to use blessings God had bestowed upon them. Carl relates the beginning of Believer’s Broadcasting Corp. as follows:

“I didn’t want to miss the Lord’s will,” Carl relates, “so I began seeking the Lord in prayer for several weeks. After fasting for three days, with no peace inside, at about eleven o’clock at night while struggling in prayer, I saw a vision: snowy black silhouette of a man’s head and shoulders appeared with an orange background. The man had no face, and when I saw him, I had a tremendous burden for him. I felt if I didn’t intercede for him he would die! After a time of intercession with no relief from the burden, I asked the Lord, Who is he?”

“The Lord said, ‘I don’t know him… but I want to know him as a father knows his son.’”Carl asked, “Lord, what is his name?”The Lord answered, “I don’t know his name, but I want to give him a name, and write his name in the Book of Life.”“Why don’t you know his name?” I asked, “You are almighty and know everything.”The Lord said, “Because he is separated from me by his sin and transgression; he is dead and no one is calling his name out to me, or holding him up in prayer.”“I cried, ‘Oh Lord, where is he? Where can I find him? Please give me his address.’”The Holy Spirit spoke, “They are all around you, by the thousands, in their homes, and they don’t know how to pray; no one is telling them the gospel.”“How can I reach them?” I asked.“By television and radio.”“What can I do? I don’t know anything about T.V. I don’t know how to build a station,” Carl asked.The Spirit of the Lord spoke, “I do, follow me.”Carl continues to explain, “God spoke to me that I should use television and radio to reach the lost. A groaning and travailing began from deep within my spirit, for how could God use me in such an undertaking-a meatcutter from a small town. After one full hour of travailing before God, His faith poured into my heart. If I would do all He told me to do, He would reach all those around with the gospel. I began to speak in a new language I had never learned. The burden lifted and joy flooded my soul! I rejoiced spontaneously in His presence another full hour.”“Later, I told Patricia about the vision God had shown me. We agreed to follow the Lord, no matter what the cost. With all four children helping and my darling wife working at the plant full time , I began to spend much of my time working toward the T.V. station.”

“We mortgaged our home and business to start on an exciting faith walk where our Heavenly Father works miracles. From the adoption of our fifth child, Cynthia, to the buying and the raising of the tower, the putting together of the equipment, etc., that joy has never left, even though there have been many times of testing and trials.”“Then I asked the Lord, how could all of this possibly be paid for?”“He said, ‘If you are faithful to follow Me, and after the station is on the air, I will use My people to help in the work.’”“After four years of trials of with false brethren, misunderstandings, wasted time and money, and following man, the Lord was merciful still. The people of God finally have their own full power T.V. station.”“We are so thankful for those whom God has sent to help fulfill this vision. Our labor is not in vain. Many are coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ, but the work has really only just begun. Our churches need to be full. We have been faithful in all we have, and now God is asking for others to enter into His harvest. Matthew 9:35 says: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues; and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” As we work alongside other ministries, together we can win the lost in our area to Jesus Christ .

“We didn’t even know about Paul and Jan Crouch, or the TBN station, but praise the Lord! What a blessing to see a ministry truly raised up by the Lord’s hand. When I read Pat Robertson’s book, Shout It From the Housetop, and Paul Crouch’s book, I Had No Father But God, I had to weep because of the pain and emotions they stirred within my heart. Only a living God with His boundless love could carry us through. Every word of praise, every thought of glory-all the honor belongs to the only lover of the souls of men.”

“During times of trial and discouragement, the Lord would simply bring to mind the vision of that faceless person, lost without Jesus. All other thoughts would quickly vanish away. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus says: ‘The harvest truly is plenty, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into “His” harvest.’”“Yes, this is His work, it is His harvest, it is His desire that burns in our hearts to finish the work He has called us into. Together we know this is truly the Lord’s work and it is marvelous in our eyes.”“A man with no electronic inclinations at all, to whom, still to this day, a two-way light switch is still confusing! Can anyone not say this is the Lord’s work? His harvest! All who labor will be rewarded and in no wise lose their reward.” Matthew 10:40-42.”“I believe the Lord has spoken to me to pay off the equipment WTJR has been using, and to move forward in His harvest. The only thing holding back the work is the Lord’s people, and I am responsible, because I felt uneasy about asking God’s people for help, but I heard the Lord ask me,‘Who’s work is this?’“I said, ‘Not mine, but yours, Lord.’”“He then said, ‘Tell them it is My work, My harvest, Matthew 9:35. They know My voice, they will follow!’”Matthew 9:35-38 King James Version (KJV)35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.